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Who Are We?

Looking for a place to feel welcome? You found it! Winterville United Methodist Church is here for you. We are an active small-town church just minutes from the city of Athens, Georgia. It is a place where people can feel comfortable and has groups for people of all ages and all needs.

We do our best to make people feel welcome, and our warm atmosphere makes the Winterville United Methodist Church a place to which people enjoy coming. It is a place where people are loved, wanted and needed. We're all about relationships...with God and with people.

At Winterville United Methodist Church, you can find a place to call home. Though we aren't perfect, we serve a loving God who accepts us as we are and invites us to discover abundant life through Him. Come and be loved!

At Winterville United Methodist Church, we strive to be an authentic, loving people who seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ by loving God and loving others.

We live out this mission by serving persons of various ages, race and economic status both inside and outside the church through a variety of programs, outreach events, and fellowship opportunities.

Want to learn more about United Methodism?          There's training for that at United Methodism 101

 

Meet Our Staff

altRev. John Merk, Pastor
E-mail: revjohnmerk@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

altKristy Smith,  Office Administrative
E-mail: wumc101@gmail.com

Pastor John is the 4th pastor that I have had the privilege to work with here at WUMC as I have been here for almost 17 years and look forward to the next 17 years.

On Feb. 9, 2016 my life changed dramatically as my first grand child was born.  What an amazing gift the Smith family received. I've been married for 35 years and have 2 grown sons and 1 precious grandson. 

!!!Then God blessed us with a grand DAUGHTER, on May 5, 2019!!!!                                                          

God is good!!

Love my WUMC family.

 

 

altTom Bouknecht, Music Director
Tom Bouknecht was born April 27th, 1949 in Troy, Ohio. At the age of 3, his family moved to St. Petersburg, FL, where he was raised. He graduated from Boca Ciega High School in 1967. He earned his BME degree from St. Leo College in Florida in 1971, with a double major in voice and piano.

In 1971, after graduation, he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield/Fort Stewart with the 80th Army and then the 94th Infantry Division Band.

After he was discharged, he took a job with the Baldwin Piano and Organ Company in Athens, Georgia and worked with Consolidate Freight and Watkins Moto Lines until starting with the US Postal Service in 1987. He retired as postmaster in Stephens, GA.

He has served as Music Director at several United Methodist Churches; Grace in Savannah, 1st in Watkinsville and now, here at Winterville.

Tom and his wife Angela live in Lexington and have 5 grown children and 6 grandchildren.

 

altBrenda Keen, Nursery Director

I was hired as Nursery Director in October 2016.  In March 2018 I retired as business manager of the literary journal The Georgia Review after 29 years on the staff of the University of Georgia.  I am present for both the 8:45 and 11:00 services, and am assisted by church volunteers on a rotating basis.  Time in the nursery is free play only, within the structure of respect, kindness, and acceptance of children's individuality.  I am cognizant of developmental differences in ages (for example, a four-year-old can share better than a two-year-old) and try to guide children into growth as loving friends by example. Children give me the opportunity to learn and grow, for which I am grateful. 
 
Thanks,
Brenda

New To The Area?
Athens Banner Herald, City of Winterville, Census Reports, Athens-Clarke County Online

Map & Directions To Our Church

Accommodations
From out of town? There are plenty of Hotel accommodations and local restaurants in nearby Athens, just 7 miles away. Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau

As always, please feel free to contact us.